Just like the Jessica Lall murder case exposed how desperately our criminal justice system is in need of reform, so has the poor handling of the evidence in the Nithari case by Nodia police brought into sharp focus the urgent need for a more high-tech police and reforms.

“There is a need for integrated policing in the NCR region,” says former DGP Uttar Pradesh, Prakash Singh.

The Supreme Court in its judgment in September directed state governments to implement police reforms.

In its judgment the SC said there is a need to separate investigation from maintenance of law and order for speedier investigation.

It also called for setting up of a State Security Commission to lay down policies for the police force in the state and a State Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

It added that there should be a transparent procedure for appointment of a Police Chief and a fixed tenure for police officers (DGP to SHO) to give stability to the system.

“ The government should implement the recommendations of the Sorabjee committee. The committee has proposed separation investigation from law and order and so has the Supreme Court ” says DG, Training and Research, Kiran Bedi.

But the state governments are resisting these much-needed reforms on the grounds that they will lose control over the police.